Work

Non-reciprocal magnetoresistances in chiral tellurium

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Materials with broken fundamental symmetries, such as chiral crystals, provide a rich playground for exploring unconventional spin-dependent transport phenomena. The interplay between a material’s chirality, strong spin–orbit coupling, and charge currents can lead to complex non-reciprocal effects, where electrical resistance depends on the direction of current and magnetic fields. In this study, we systematically investigate the angular dependencies of magnetoresistance in single-crystalline chiral tellurium (Te). We observe distinct non-reciprocal magnetoresistances for magnetic fields applied along three orthogonal directions: parallel to the current along the chiral axis (z), in the sample plane but perpendicular to the current (y), and out of the sample plane (x). Through the detailed analysis of the chirality- and thickness dependence of the signals, we successfully disentangle multiple coexisting mechanisms. We conclude that the Edelstein effect, arising from the chiral structure’s radial spin texture, is responsible for the non-reciprocity along the z axis. In contrast, the chirality-independent signal along the y axis is attributed to the Nernst effect, and the non-reciprocity along the x axis may originate from the orbital magnetization. These findings elucidate the complex interplay of spin, orbital, and thermal effects in Te, providing a complete picture of its non-reciprocal transport properties.

Source: Journal of Applied Physics

DOI: 10.1063/5.0313356

Authors: Shuchen Li, Chang Niu, Peide D. Ye, Axel Hoffmann

Institutions: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University West Lafayette

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic properties of thin films

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500

Funder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research